A Night On the Holodeck (Part V)

Posted on Tue Nov 1st, 2022 @ 5:59am by Cadet Senior Grade Meghan Stefani & Cadet Senior Grade Daniel Weaver & Cadet Junior Grade Emma Mendez

1,069 words; about a 5 minute read

Mission: The Cadet Cruise
Location: Holodeck
Timeline: Night before launch

[PREVIOUSLY]

Vincent smirked, raising a slight brow, as he got the picture Daniel didn't want to speak in front of the others. "Good... you know if there is something to talk about... I'm here." He smiled back before looking to the group. "Gentleman... and Ladies... Welcome to Elysium. My name is Vincent Van-Helsing. This is my club and, of all the rules I have here, remember this. There is no violence here. So... you are safe. No matter what you see here, you will not be harmed. I won't allow it. Treat those here as equals and you will get the same. Understood?"

[CONTINUED]

Meghan squeezed Daniel's hand. Van Helsing? That said a lot in and of itself. "Understood and nice to meet you."

"Wonderful. While you are here you are considered my guests so drinks and food are on the house." Vincent replied as he put his hands together. "Now... I am sure you all have many questions and I would be happy to answer what your friend Daniel cannot."

Meghan glanced at Daniel, then back to Vincent. "I'm not even sure where to start."

"The drinks are free? You mean you have to actually pay for them here usually?" Emma asked slightly shocked. Currency in the 24th century was a thing of the past unless you considered The Ferengi. "Does that mean we have to handle... oh what’s it called... money?"

Vincent raised a brow, looking over to Daniel, before turning back to Emma. "If you prefer to pay for your own drinks and meal I will be more than happy to rescind the offer if you feel offended in anyway?"

"No, no... I'm fine" Emma said nervously waving her hands.

"Good." Vincent said, smiling a bit, as he put his hands behind is back. "Normally people have more explorative questions than that, but I am sure some people have their priorities." He looked over to Daniel, raising a brow slightly, before looking back to the group. "Anything else?"

"Well...I'd like to hear about what you do," Meghan asked.

"I run a club." Vincent replied with a smirk.

"You don't just run a club." Daniel added, chuckling softly. He looked over to Vincent and nodded a bit. "It's okay, Vincent. You can trust them."

Vincent looked at Daniel, giving him a smile before placing his hand on his shoulder. He patted him slightly before looking back to Meghan, and the others, as he placed his hands behind his back. "As I said... my name is Vincent Van-Helsing and yes... Abraham is a distant relation." He removed a hand from behind his back and held up an index finger. "Interesting fact: The novel was based on memoirs originally written about the whole encounter, but it left out a few events. Mainly Vlad's last laugh over the Professor."

He placed his hand back behind his back as he continued. "You see... Abraham was fond of his drink and enjoyed a glass from time to time. Now, after the whole experience with the Count and his wives, he needs one. What he did not know is, the devious Count, spiked his favorite bottle with a particular crimson liquid. As lore may tell you... one of the ways to make a mortal a creature of the night is by feeding them your blood. Cursing them from that point on." He removed his hands, holding them out slightly, as he smiling baring his fangs a bit as the shine in his eyes returned. "And so began the foundation of the House of Van-Helsing."

Daniel looked to Meghan and the others, smiling as he spoke. "In this world creatures like vampires, werewolves, demons, and the like have existed for centuries. Some even say around the beginning of life itself. So, over the years, they remained in the shadows. Some even living among us in the real world. They even have their own group that has built a whole group that act like their governing body. They act as their law-and-order system. It's called the Masquerade. Vincent, and members of his family, have worked for this group for a long time. They protect innocent creatures and maintain the shroud between the two worlds. Trying to keep the magic world and the real world separate."

"That's the Cliff's Notes version." Vincent added with a smirk as he looked back to the Detective. "That is Detective Duncan McCallum, my partner and often thorn in my side."

"Hey." The Detective said as he stood up and walked over. "I've saved your vampiric backside plenty of times."

"Often from situations you've gotten us into." Vincent replied as he looked over to Duncan.

"I'm still figuring this whole 'magic realm' out." Duncan said firmly as he crossed his arms over his chest. "This job doesn't come with a manual."

Vincent shook his head with a laugh. He placed his hand on Duncan's shoulder before putting them back behind his back. "The Detective here has been given permission by the Masquerade to help me in keeping the line. He's got a lot to learn and he's done well... give or take a few incidents."

"I read the book," Meghan said, looking from one man to another. "So, you deal with any supernatural problems that arise?" It was a fascinating premise, but she would be sure to stay close to Daniel in here.

"Yes, young lady." Vincent replied with a nod. "From a creature on a rampage to a newborn whose doesn't understand what is going on and how to maintain control. The primary goal is to keep the balance." He paused slightly as he looked over to Duncan before returning his gaze to Meghan. "Not everything we deal with is supernatural and sometimes the most dangerous thing out there is still just a regular human being."

"Yes. There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy."

Vincent smiled, nodding his head, allowing a slight laugh to escape his lips. "Though this be madness, yet there is method in’t.” He said before looking to Daniel. "I like her."

(To be continued...)

Cadet Senior Grade Daniel Weaver
Command

Cadet Senior Grade Meghan Stefani
Science

Cadet Junior Grade Emma Mendez
Engineering

 

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